A model walks the runway at Miami Fashion Week Swim 2011 in a gold Aqua di Lara monokini, available for $184.80 (sale price) at Swimwearworld.com.

Forget those teeny bikinis. Glamorous gals lounging by the pool this summer are flaunting more dressed-up and covered-up looks.

Retro-inspired one-pieces and bikinis, along with ultra-modern monokinis and matchy-matchy cover-ups, are all about looking sultry and sophisticated while maintaining one’s cool confidence in and out of the water.

"The 5 a 7, the backyard barbecue, the boat" are all worthy occasions to strut about in full-cover-age and more formal swimwear, said Chantal Levesque, founder and designer of Montreal-based swimsuit label Shan, which sells to 400 retail outlets worldwide and has five free-standing stores (the Montreal location is at 2150 Crescent St.).

On Saturday, Shan and Levesque will be awarded the coveted Designer of the Year Award in Paris at the International Mode City Show, a gathering of industry leaders in lingerie and swimwear.

Shan sells stylish bathing tops and bottoms as separates, with cup sizes ranging from A to F.

It also sells a variety of cover-ups. While most cover-ups are not designed for swimming, one flirty A-line is made of swimmable material.

"We’ve always been sexy, feminine and more dressed up," Levesque said, noting that Shan swimwear should be thought of as more similar to evening wear than casual daywear.

She also points out that the retro-inspired looks have "always been part of our brand," long before the newest trend in swimwear.

Retro-style swimsuits, complete with ruching, ruffles and strategic underwire cups, can also be found from J. Crew and Juicy Couture.

Tops tend to be more structured and with full coverage, and some briefs even come with skirts attached, which help accentuate an hourglass silhouette. They can appear both fancier and flirtier than average swimsuits, and some even boast fabrics like tulle or lace.

On the skimpier side of 5 a 7 swimwear are zigzagging one-piece monokinis, which can be more daring than many two-pieces, even though they provide more coverage.

"(Monokinis) are almost evening wear for the beach, with lots of appliques and crystals so that they’re more blinged out," said Reyhan Sofraci, creative director of Montreal-based swimwear company Aqua di Lara, which specializes in top-tier monokini-style swimwear. When it comes to fancier swimwear, women love that they can take the beach look and put it on with jeans or a skirt, Sofraci says.

She also maintains that many of the defined, graphic cuts have a way of disguising problem areas, like a flabby midriff. Plus, they offer an option to women who are no longer comfortable in bikinis.

"It’s funny: Even though they provide more coverage, some people see them as being more sexy," she said.

Sofraci believes the trend of more embellished, fancier swimwear is only going to become more popular.

"People are staying away from the simple bikini. They want that piece to talk about," she said.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.